DESPITE BOE OPPOSITION Tatachug project will proceed

A notice to proceed has been issued for the construction of the JROTC and Vocational education buildings at Tatachug in Rota despite strong opposition from the Board of Education to establish the educational facilities.

Public Works Secretary Juan B. Cepeda has already informed Pacific Cooperation Limited, the contractor for the proposed projects, that the contract performance has been set for 227 calendar days starting May 8, 2000.
February 2, 2001 is the target completion date for the facilities.

BOE Committee on Capital Improvement Projects Chair Anthony Pellegrino was surprised at the decision to carry out construction despite failure between BOE and the Rota Mayor’s Office to reach an “understanding.”

Since the Public School System refused to take responsibility for the proposed facilities, the Northern Marianas College will be overseeing the administration of the buildings once completed.

Rota Mayor Benjamin Manglona apparently wrote to NMC President Jack Sablan, asking if the college was interested in heading the educational facilities.

Mr. Sablan, in a letter to the mayor, accepted the responsibilities which will be maximized for the use of the college’s adult vocational education program.

“With such facilities at the college we will be able to quickly put into place needed vocational adult education programs to meet the needs of the business development for the CNMI,” said Mr. Sablan.

The mayor also assured Asst. Atty. General Murphy Peterson that the use of facilities, originally targeted for PSS, does not contradict with provisions of Public Law 11-7 which appropriates funds for the same purpose.

Mr. Manglona further stated that PSS is welcome to use the facilities if they it so desire at a later date.

“My intent remains as always, to benefit the children of Rota. Our children receive the benefit when their parents are refrained and re educated to meet the growing demands of the increased business development of Rota,” said the mayor.

Funding from the project will come from the Office of Insular Affairs and the CIP allotted for the island municipality.

Meanwhile, BOE member Marja Lee Taitano maintains that funds for the projects were meant for 90 PSS emergency classrooms.

“That money was for the children of Rota — it was meant for PSS, remember the children of Rota. If something else is built with that money, it is not going to PSS,” said Ms. Taitano.

Earlier, BOE members and Rota leaders signed an MOU for the construction of the proposed facilities.

BOE members are worried that overseeing the maintenance of the facilities would be a difficult for PSS if it were to be constructed in Tatachug, which is far from the school campuses.

The proposed site is also reportedly beside a poorly-managed dump site.

The Legislature has earmarked some $1.7 million for the A&E and construction of a vocational shop and JROTC classrooms including storage rooms for the Rota High School. (MM)